US-backed Syrian rebels advance on IS bastion

Supported by air strikes by the US-led coalition battling IS in Syria and Iraq, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance launched an assault last week on Manbij.

Beirut: US-backed Syrian rebels advancing on Islamic State group fighters in the strategic northern town of Manbij have progressed to within five kilometres (three miles) of the jihadist bastion, a monitor said Sunday.

Supported by air strikes by the US-led coalition battling IS in Syria and Iraq, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias launched an assault last week on Manbij.

"The Syrian Democratic Forces are now within about five kilometres of the strategic city of Manbij," said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group.

Manbij is located along a route connecting Raqa -- the IS group`s de facto capital in Syria -- to the Turkish border, a vital conduit for supplies and foreign fighters.

US Central Command spokesman Colonel Patrick Ryder said on Saturday that SDF fighters had seized more than 100 square kilometres (40 square miles) of territory during the advance.

More than 55 air strikes have been carried out since the offensive began last Monday, he said, adding that the goal was to hamper IS`s ability "to move fighters, weapons, finances (and) supplies into and out of Syria and Iraq."

Some 3,000 Arab fighters were taking part in the offensive, backed by around 500 Kurdish militia members, he said, adding that US special forces were working "at the command and control level" in the operation.

Russian-backed Syrian troops are also advancing against IS in Raqa and on Saturday pushed into the province from the southwest, moving to within 40 kilometres (25 miles) of the Euphrates Valley town of Tabqa, site of the country`s biggest dam.